CUMBERLAND COMMISSION APPROVES NEW COUNTY COURT FEE
The Crossville Chronicle reports that the Cumberland County Commission unanimously approved a resolution requested by 13th Judicial District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway to impose a $12.50 fee on state misdemeanor and felony convictions for non-moving violations, with funds collected via the circuit court clerk’s office to support public safety initiatives solely within Cumberland County at the DA’s discretion.
These initiatives include public education on scams and child internet safety, school partnerships, software for court-approved cellphone searches, victim services, and training, as no current funding exists for such efforts; uncollectible fees are anticipated, but annual January reports will detail collections and expenditures to the county mayor. The fee requires minimal additional clerical work, simply adding a checkbox to forms, and passed 17-0 after a motion by Commissioner David Gibson and support from Nancy Hyder, meeting the required two-thirds majority.
Dunaway later returned to the budget committee to revise incorrect language in the original resolution, with the updated version slated for consideration at the October commission meeting.
In related actions, the commission approved numerous budget amendments, including $11,437 for the jail’s litter removal radio system, $12,000 for sheriff’s office training salary supplements, $54,563 for a Brownfield grant on county property, $1.39 million clarifying ARPA funds for environmental projects (revising a 2022 $6 million allocation), $2.8 million in capital outlay notes from fund balances, and various Board of Education grants totaling over $1.7 million for recruitment, retention, maintenance, special education, teacher bonuses, industry certifications, and professional development under federal and state programs like Perkins and Gear Up.
